Government likely to achieve $ 9 billion export target

Minister of Commerce and Industry, Abdul Razzak Dawood said the government is likely to achieve the revised export target of $ 9 billion this year. Speaking in ARY television programme telecast on Saturday, he said the export target was revised due to incidents of
September 11 in United States.

Last year, the country for the first time touched the figure of $ 9.2 billion of export against the set target of $ 10 billion, he said.

Abdul Razzak said when the government took over the charge, the yearly export was only $ 7.78 billion which improved with the passage of time. He said the export figures from July to January were similar to the corresponding period of last year, but exports in February
were 13% less as compared to the same month last year.

He hoped that export would significantly increase in the next fiscal year. The Minister said textile, leather and rice are the main agriculture-based exports of the country. To a question, he said the main objective of the vision 2005 is to improve the quality of textile industry according to international standards.

He said in 2005, the quota system for textile products will end and only those countries can compete in the international market which produce quality products.

Razzak said they have opened their market for textile products which can be imported and exported without any restriction.

The Minister maintained the performance of value-added sector is improving with every passing day. The export performance of leather sector is encouraging but he is not wholly satisfied with it, he added.

He said the government is focusing on engineering and chemical products and information technology besides the agricultural sector to increase its exports.

Pakistan is making efforts to export auto parts to the United States and Europe, the Minister added.
 
Source: APP